The White House said in part that President Donald Trump’s “highest enforcement priority” is “deportation of illegal alien criminals who endanger American communities,” following a report in The Wall Street Journal that Trump told his top advisers and first lady Melania Trump that some of the administration’s policies have gone too far.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via email for comment Thursday night.
Why It Matters
The report suggested a possible shift in messaging around one of Trump’s most prominent policy agendas, which has shaped political debate over immigration and border enforcement while remaining a central point of contrast between former President Joe Biden and the current administration.
What To Know
The Journal reported that Trump expressed to top advisers to adopt a new approach focused on arresting “bad guys” and reducing visible “chaos” in cities, reflecting concerns from conversations with his advisers and the first lady that the term “mass deportation” turned off voters, according to people familiar with the matter.
Special Assistant to the President and White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson posted to X on Thursday night, reacting to a post by the Journal, saying, “Nobody is changing this Administration’s immigration enforcement agenda. If you’re in the country illegally, you’re subject to deportation — and President Trump’s highest enforcement priority remains the deportation of illegal alien criminals who endanger American communities.”
Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, is reportedly behind the reset in part, per the Journal. Wiles believes Trump’s immigration team is taking a prominent issue for the president and turning it into a potentially challenging one ahead of the midterm elections, according to the outlet.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leadership is, at the moment, not moving forward with operations similar to those previously executed in large Democratic cities like Chicago and Minneapolis, along with Washington, D.C., the Journal reports, citing officials familiar with the matter. The outlet also noted that Trump administration officials said operations in the future could still ramp up.
Meanwhile, Trump’s new pick for DHS secretary, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin, faces a vote to replace outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem.
What People Are Saying
Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri, on X this month: “Mass migration has to be met with mass deportations. If you abuse America’s immigration system and break our laws–we ought to be able to prosecute you and send you back home. My SCAM Act would make that possible.”
Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu of California, on X this month: “trump has already lost. He believed America would embrace his dark vision of anonymous, masked federal agents terrorizing communities to conduct mass deportations. The American people said Hell No. And now trump and Republicans are backtracking. November is coming.”
What Happens Next
It is immediately unclear if Trump will publicly acknowledge the reported remarks on mass deportation policies and if any policy changes are publicly forthcoming.
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